Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Disney, Square-Enix, Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire or anything else. They rightfully belong to their respective owners.
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
Writing/Singing
"Foreign Language/Flashback"
-Scene Shift-
Chapter 42: Reparation of Woes
Life within the halls of Castle Dracula was miniscule and rather lacking.
There is no argument about how dark the castle was. It reeked of death and all other negative feelings for years since it was first constructed.
Things slowly changed upon the arrival of Lisa from the village of Lupu. How one fateful encounter slowly brought light into the dark and miserable piece of architecture. How the lord of the castle took a chance and opened up to his eventual future bride and love and his life after so many years, which gave way to something wonderful and made the enchanted castle homier than originally intended.
This was all Adrian Fahrenheit Tepes, otherwise known as Alucard, knew for the majority of his life. He knew happiness from two loving parents. He learned much between the two of them, both science and magic. And at one point, when Alucard was old enough, his mother gave him and his father a request.
"If you two love me as men, then live as one." Lisa said to both her husband and son. "Travel as men. See the world as men."
In part, Alucard was thankful for the request as he got to see much with his own eyes and his own person. Experiencing things he would never obtain from behind his books and other lessons.
Sadly, he also wished he didn't leave his mother's side or at the very least came back to her sooner at her one hovel of a home/clinic outside of Targoviste. If he did, then she would still be alive and so many others. How a tragedy would've been greatly diverted and Wallachia wouldn't have undergone such horrors.
The dhampir can still recall the argument he had with his father in his attempt to stop Wallachia's apocalypse.
"Father, please, you must stop!"
"Stop? What do you mean 'stop'?" Dracula slowly growls out. "That woman was the only reason on earth for me to tolerate human life!"
"Then find the one who did the deed." Alucard told his father, trying to rationalize with him. "If you let loose an army of the night on Wallachia, you cannot undo it, and many thousands of people just as innocent as Mother will suffer and die."
"THERE ARE NO INNOCENTS! NOT ANYMORE!" Roared the king of vampires. "Any one of them could have stood up and said, "No, we won't behave like animals anymore."
Such a thing was hopeful on what could've occurred. Sadly, the people were too afraid of the church to step out of line and actually see the reason for what they were doing was more harmful than good.
"I won't let you do it. I grieve with you, but I won't let you commit genocide." Was all Alucard said before he and his father clashed.
Sadly, the attempt in stopping Dracula failed.
For a year, Alucard was forced to slumber under the city of Gresit in order to recover from his wounds. Upon his awakening, he joined the Speaker Magician Sypha, the Vampire Hunter Trevor Belmont and the Nobody Keybearer Roxas in order to take down his father and save the world.
And they did. Four unlikely individuals were able to defeat the feared and dreaded Vlad "Dracula" Tepes.
Sadly their efforts would never be truly known by the world. How they risked their lives to defeat the Lord of the Night and the king of vampires. Perhaps, in time, the world will but it'll take a long while for it to happen.
Since that day, Castle Dracula has become much quieter and less livelier.
The dhampir child of Lisa and Dracula chose to remain behind while the others left. Becoming the warden and safeguarding the territory of both his home and the Belmont Hold.
For months it became lonely for him, but not as much as one would initially believe if Alucard didn't have a means of magically communicating with his friends. Not coming across such a factor would've slowly driven Alucard insane in being cut off from his companions. The dhampir had to be thankful for that.
It was also through such factors did he come across a companion he cherishes quite dearly. Not in a romantic sense, but platonically in a sibling sense.
And now, through a unique circumstance, Alucard was given a new opportunity he would never foresee.
Walking a bit behind the dhampir and his sister were the new guests to this world composed of a young noble, a talking cat, a bastard and the noble's direwolf companion.
After some time of silence, the Stark girl speaks. "You're the lord of this castle?"
"I am."
"...Where are all the servants?" Arya questions. "Or… anyone else for that matter?"
With a castle as large as this, there is bound to be perhaps a few hundred servants to help maintain it. Not to mention with this point in the day, some should at least be seen already.
"It's rather complicated." Alucard answered in a far-off tone.
"He probably means they're elsewhere… right?"
In response to Gendry's question, Alucard simply placed a hand on the silent berserker's shoulder. "It's mostly Eve and I."
Eve gave a few brief nods as she held her large mace.
"How long have you been here?" The Stark She-Wolf asked.
"Oh, years." Was the dhampir's response. "But if you mean recently, a couple of months… Well it feels like it. As for Eve, it's… rather circumstantial on technicalities." He led them further into the castle, having his eyes wander a tad more in the process. "You've seen the various conditions of the castle, yes?"
Gendry and Arya were too focused and lost in their amazement at how unique the castle they were in was to notice anything. Their talking animal companion, however, did as he still rode on Nymeria's back.
"I've noticed there were recent repairs in comparison to other parts along the way here." Cait comments. "What happened?"
"Well… there was a small battle." Alucard gazes onward with no apparent focus. His mind was reflecting in the process. "Mostly just desperate and sad with the outcome."
"And where are we exactly?" Asks Gendry.
"The ruins you were in earlier is the Belmont Hold, the repository of all their knowledge. You could say it is a fallen keep of my friend's ancestral seat." The dhampir waved his arm to gesture the keep they were in. "And here is Castle Dracula, containing all of my father's knowledge."
Eventually, Alucard led the new arrivals to a certain part of the castle. Upon opening the doorway, Eve scurried on past him with the others following suit as they entered the private kitchen area.
Curious wonder quickly blanketed the two Westerosi a whole lot more with what they were seeing as they somewhat wondered what they were. However, to Cait Sith, he recognized the oven with the stovetop, and the refrigerator among several other appliances which he thought was odd in the present world setting.
What drew their attention next was something unexpected: a small collection of dolls.
Each was sown and made out of an assortment of items such as cloths, buttons and even scrap parts to depict certain individuals.
"Who are they supposed to be?" Arya asks.
Eve walked up to the dolls situated on one side of the room and pointed them out. "Treffy… Sypha… Roxas…"
Okay, the new arrivals already figured Roxas, given the doll's features. However…
"Who are… Treffy and Sypha?"
What came next surprised the other worlders in varying degrees.
"I ha-hate every…th-thing and every…body." Eve says, mimicking the best masculine voice she could muster as she held and moved about Treffy. "I get dr-drunk and stup-id on beer and wh-whine about my gen… genitals." She then moves the Sypha doll and speaks in her normal voice. "You are a horr-horrible, terr-terrible person and many wo-words for horr-horrible and terr-terriible, because I know all the wo-words as I'm… sma-smarter than every-one else." She places both dolls down to focus more on the Roxas doll. "Guys, stop fi-fighting and hug it out." And Eve does so by grabbing all three dolls and hugging them.
The sight appeared adorable, however…
"...That is the most coherent… and long-lasting I've heard her speak since meeting her." The dhampir remarked in genuine and pleased surprise.
The three otherworldly visitors look from the dolls to Alucard, who bore a cheeky smile as he finishes putting away his foraged food in the refrigerator.
"I've learned she speaks a bit more when playing with them."
"Growing minds need stimulation." Cait Sith comments.
"Correct."
"...That still doesn't explain what she was doing…" Arya wryly said.
"I found it best to teach her with dolls and things went on from there." The dhampir looked at the guests and brought up a fact. "I believe some food is in order."
At the mention of this, Arya and Gendry smiled a little while Nymeria barked in appreciation.
With the lord of the castle began putting up a small meal together for them all, he spoke the obvious statement. "I doubt Roxas told you of this place. I wouldn't hold it against him, given the laws."
Of course, there was Tyene Sand, but that was a different subject entirely.
"Laws?" Gendry simply asked.
"It's not really laws, but guidelines." Says Cait Sith. "What he means is the World Order."
"World Order?" Arya and Gendry parroted.
"Yes, which is why it is best if you two sit and get yourselves comfortable." Alucard said, placing ingredients into a pan and lighting a fire beneath it. "This is going to take some time."
And thus a lengthy conversation took place as life began anew within the castle.
-Radiant Garden-
It felt like a dream.
One he's had for years since that day.
The day he heard of Ashara Dayne's supposed death.
Since then, Ned had been wrought with grief, trying as he might to bury it deep within his heart. Despite having built a family with Cat, developing a proper loving relationship with her, the place he had for Ashara never disappeared. It seldom waned or shrunk, instead increasing with time.
Yes, he loves Catelyn, Yes, he loves all his children he has with her. There was no way he could replace either of them.
But Ashara… Ashara was his first love.
His true love. She always was.
Just as Brandon was for Catelyn, much as she may try to deny it.
And now… now, she was here. In front of him, in his arms again, clinging to him as though there could be the chance that he would disappear from her grasp.
Of course, reveal after reveal was hard for him to hold and burden before toppling over.
After all, it's not every day that one realizes they have another child and didn't know about it for years.
Allyarra, his daughter, his firstborn child?
Not wanting to put more of a public spectacle, Allyarra dragged her mother and apparent father back to their home so they could have a more private conversation.
As he sat there in silence, Ned looked around the small home. It was something akin to a small folk's residence, but much different than he was used to throughout his life.
He would've inspected more if it weren't for Allayarra to speak. "Okay. We're alone now. Start talking, mother. What the hell is going on?"
Ashara merely sighed, running her fingers through her hair. "There is a lot to talk about, my dear."
"Clearly." Says the Dayne woman before glancing over to Ned. "How should we start?"
"You should begin as I am very confused with…"
"The World Order?"
Ned shook his head. "No. I know what that is, at the very least. I was informed of it."
Technically, one can't be in trouble by talking about it. It's not so much to protect one person, but the inhabitants of the other world.
You see, every world is defined by its particular boundaries, within which some understanding of reality emerges as truth. Two truths, however, cannot coexist, and so from the introduction of foreign bodies is conflict and chaos spawned. That is why many beyond one's world limit their involvement in another's local affairs. A means of having the worlds be ignorant with each other.
Yet if the proper knowledge was too widespread, there would be many repercussions. For if they did, then many would no doubt seek means of traversing to them for untold reasons and desires which may or may not be problematic.
Hence the World Order was more or less established.
However, when really thinking about it, it's more problematic than good. In essence, the law of preservation is basically a waste of time. For starters, it's not like anyone would really believe another is from a different world as they'll think they're a lunatic. Another factor is when a foreign power invades with no one knowing at all of the dangers, speculations spread like wildfire in the worst possible way.
There was clearly a lot of debate about such a thing, but we'll save this for another time.
"Of course. You were close to Ventus. He no doubt told you during the Rebellion."
"And his sister-figure, Aqua, filled in what was left."
"Has he told anyone else?" Ashara asked.
"Only me. He thought I was the best choice to know, given the circumstances. But what of you? How is it…?"
"It's the result of how Allyarra and I left our world, even if it was unintentional." His first love revealed.
"You two should start from the beginning." Allyarra interrupts her parents. "You're just jumbling around."
"We're exactly not. We're just establishing-"
"You know what I mean."
"...Not really."
"She means how we met." Ashara clarifies.
Ned looked at her in surprise. "You never told her?"
"She never asked and I respected her decision… until now, that is."
Ned was rather conflicted upon hearing this response. But he somewhat knew how this felt now on the receiving end.
"You see, sweetie, your father and I, we met on the infamous Tourney of Harrenhal and can thank Ventus for our introductions." Says the Dayne woman. "A lot happened within that span of time and I would never forget what occurred then." Her gaze became distant with her reflecting on memory and almost became lost in them. Shaking her head, she focused on what needed to be said. "During this time, my relationship with this Quiet Wolf here grew at a surprising rate. Things lead to another where we got swept up into a whirlwind romance." Ashara turns to her lost love with a teasing grin. "And given how often we snuck away together after our first tryst, there was hardly any doubt you'd got me pregnant."
Their daughter made a face and visibly squirmed on the spot. "Ew, Mom, stop."
Ashara rolled her eyes. "Allayarra, you're old enough to know such things. Don't act like you don't."
Their daughter grumbled a little but kept herself quiet as she'd save quite the amount of questions for later.
Especially since the Stark lord had a number of his own he sought answers for.
Silence blanketed the small home with Ned reflecting much of a time long past. Recollecting moments of his time in Harrenhal with the woman who he shared his heart with. Time afterward he heard occasional rumors from the Westerosi capital to Dorne once learning Ashara left Elia's service as her Lady in Waiting in order to return home for unspecified reasons. Speculations arose left and right which many in the realm more or less agreed upon as truth, even though it wasn't exactly on point.
"I sent letters. I had hoped you would've read them." Ash quietly said.
"I did. Though I imagined you never got mine."
A shake of his head was the confirmation she needed.
"I held hope of reading them, but I eventually stopped as I thought you were ignoring me, sought company with someone else or-"
"I would never." Came Ashara's stern interruption. "Many sought my attention, but I never gave them the same way as I gave you." The bit of reassurance did lift Ned's spirits a little, but not enough from what he desired. "I can only guess as to why my letters never got to you."
Same with him. Ravens shot down, either intentionally or accidentally were often the most common factor. Taking that into account, someone was deliberately intercepting Ashara's outgoing letters and being sure they never reached their destination.
They can only speculate as to who sought to disconnect the two. Beyond such guesses, only the gods know who was the prime suspect.
"They told me you died." His eyes shifted over to their daughter. "That you both died by jumping off Starfall's cliff without their notice. They hoped you'd wash ashore for a proper burial but… Some blamed me for it while others…"
"...I imagine they would, given my abrupt departure."
The Dayne woman already speculated much of what would've occurred with her absence. Hearing it from her old love at least clarified some of her assumptions aimed towards her House.
The forlorn look on her face was rather telling as she gave Ned the best truth she could give. "It was one night I was wishing upon the stars, hoping things could be better. The war was taking much from what I've been hearing from the servants. I just wanted to get away from it all. To get back to you, Ned, so we could raise our daughter together. I didn't even care that you had taken the Tully woman as your wife. I just wanted to at least be with you."
"...I didn't mean to, you should know. I had hoped of staying unwed but-"
"You had your duty."
The Quiet Wolf's gaze turned away from hers, shoulders sagging. "Aye."
Ashara sighed as she continued. "I wouldn't know if the gods were listening or by some miracle, but part of my wish was granted as I -along with Allyarra, who was in my arms at the time- were whisked away by some light. Next thing I knew, I found myself here in Radiant Gardens and took refuge here… for a time."
"...What happened?"
"The Heartless." Allyarra spoke after some minutes of silence. "They overran the world and drove everyone off. Many of us made our way to Traverse Town and resided there until a little over a year ago when we made our return."
The Stark lord hummed in response. "That correlates with what I learned from Roxas and Cloud."
"Cloud?" Ashara perked up in surprise. "You know Cloud Strife?"
"I do, to an extent. I first met him at the Twins and he's been contracted under me…"
"To an extent." Ashara finishes off, having her old love nod in turn. "Who's Roxas?"
"Someone… who's quite a lot like Ventus. Frighteningly so, I admit." Ned remarked. "When I tell you he is the spitting image of Ven, I would be understating it until you see it with your own eyes."
The Dayne woman pondered a little, imagining who this Roxas was and how similar he is to Ventus. However, such curiosity ended with what their daughter spoke next.
"So tell me, Ned-"
"You could call me father."
Allyarra gave him a look. "I could, but we just met today. To me, you're just a stranger who helped birth me but never raised me."
"Allyarra!"
"No, it's alright." Ned says, calmly with an undertone of hurt in his voice that he masked well. "She has the right."
After all, he hasn't really earned the right quite yet.
"Anyways, how is it that you are here, Ned? What's been going on for these eleven years back home?" Ashara finally asked the question she had been pondering since seeing him.
Opening his mouth, the Northerner was going to respond when he took a quick note of a particular detail.
"Wait, what do you mean by eleven years? Don't you mean eighteen?"
Now both mother and daughter gave the Stark lord a strange look.
"No, it's been about eleven."
"...Huh?"
-Disney Castle-
'This has to be a dream.' Sansa says to herself. 'It has to.'
Things were truly too surreal for her to comprehend. Nay, impossible.
She had to be dreaming. She had to.
The impossible and unbelievable occurred far more in dreams than in reality. Yet such fantastical things had occurred to her in these past months since her beloved Roxas came into her life. But even then, there were still things one would be hard to accept in the waking hours instead of slumber.
Sadly, her pinching herself in these past minutes gave her the reminder she was in fact awake. After all, no one could hurt her in her dreams, right?
If she was in fact awake, she'd probably be going mad. Not emotionally, but mentally.
Because you see, here she was, in another place greatly unknown to her in front of some individuals she could never imagine being in the presence of. This was due to two of them being considered long dead while another was greatly out of the norm.
To sum things up, Sansa was in the presence of the seemingly long-dead Princess Elia Martell and her daughter Rhaenys Targaryen. The other was the queen of the castle and Sansa's apparent host, Minnie Mouse.
Overcome with shock, Sansa needed some private time in order to collect her thoughts. It was granted along with her needing to be freshened up. After all, she was a complete mess when she arrived in Disney Castle, both figuratively and literally.
The washroom where she took her bath was far different than what she had grown to know throughout her life. There was no servant to really draw her a bath. Replacing such means was drawing water from a series of pipes, given what Rhaenys pointed out to her when helped get it ready for the Stark girl before leaving to her privacy.
With her time alone, Sansa thought of a whole plethora of questions she sought answers to from these unusual people.
Where was she? What happened to her? Was her father and sister well? How were Elia and Rhaenys alive? Why is there even an anthropomorphic, talking mouse as royalty?
More and more plagued her mind as she scrubbed her body and washed her hair with a number of scented oils and liquids in unusual squeezable bottles.
Once done cleaning herself, Sansa was given a few pieces of clothing by Rhaenys which took less time for her to put on, but were a bit complicated with their simplicity with a few details like something involving "zippers". From there, Rhaenys directed the Stark girl to a drawing room where Elia and Minnie awaited her there.
"Good, you're ready." Elia says simply. "Are you finally calm?"
Sansa gave a strained smile, trying her best to curtsy. "More or less, your grace."
The Dornish woman rolled her eyes. "My husband has been dead for years. By default, I'm just a dowager mother." She then nudges her head over to Minnie, who is sipping from a cup of tea. "In truth, the only one here that's royal is her."
"But what about Rhaenys?"
Said person mimicked her mother and gave a brief shrug. "My brother and I can care less of being royalty."
This got Sansa to freeze in her spot before looking at the lost Targaryen princess. "Prince Aegon is alive?"
Elia smiled. "Oh yes, he is. He's happy."
"Wh-where is he?"
"Around." Rhaenys said with a shrug. "Most likely being with his friends at the moment."
If this is indeed true, then both of the true heirs to the Iron Throne are alive. Yet if that were the case, then the realm would be in further strife than before.
With this in mind, Sansa spoke the first question on her list.
"How did you survive? All three of you were supposed to be dead at the Sacking."
Minnie, Elia and Rhaenys look at each other with varying expressions on what Sansa was referring to. The Queen of Disney Castle was more concerned about one of her friends. Rhaenys was unsettled while her mother was reflecting on the traumatic experience.
"A lot happened that day." Elia began. "I was unsettled with gossip and news wafting throughout the Red Keep. Rhaegar's death had reached our ears days prior with many stipulations as to what may occur. No one was allowed in or out of the city, upon Aerys' command." She soon reached over and grabbed her daughter's hand, who gave a comforting squeeze. "For days after learning of… my husband's demise, I pleaded to Aerys to allow me and my children to leave and join Rhaella and Viserys over at Dragonstone, but he wouldn't budge. We were the only means of keeping my people -the Dornish- settled as we were essentially his hostages." Elia soon scoffs. "Of course, as this went on, Aerys had made pleas of his own particular fashion towards Tywin to aid him in the war. And after months of no replies or refusals, the Lion answered."
Sansa knew this particular part of the story but kept quiet as she wanted to know of Elia's own accounts.
"The day came when Tywin's army arrived at the city gates. Many of the palace staff wondered what may occur. Speculations flew about how many lives would be lost when Tywin's army and Robert's would clash. But as time rolled on by with great anticipation, I received word from one of Varys' birds that I needed to leave."
"Because he knew what was going to happen." Sansa surmises. "Lord Tywin's attack on the city once the gates were opened."
With Elia's nod, she continued. "I was second-guessing this information, but with the circumstances at the time, I saw it as a sign to leave regardless of the consequences. And it was a bit easier, given I had known a number of the Red Keep's infamous passages, thanks to Rhaenys. Such a curious adventurer." Rhaenys looked a bit smug on her mother's compliment. "We were finishing preparations on leaving through this one passageway in Maegor's Holdfast, which would've led to the coast, yet things weren't so fortunate for us when the Lion's forces made it in too quickly than expected. Armory Lorch was the one to find us with a few of his men."
Sansa gave her a queer look. "The stories tell it was the Mountain who found you, not… whoever that was."
Honestly, this was the first time she ever heard the name Armory Lorch.
"Tell us, Sansa, how was it that we supposedly died?"
Upon hearing Rhaenys' inquiry, Sansa shifted in her seat uncomfortably. "Aegon's head was smashed once slammed against the wall whereas you -Rhaenys- were apparently stabbed a hundred times all over the body." Sansa shifts her gaze over to Elia. "You were brutally raped before ending your life by crushing your head. It was all before your bodies were presented to Robert Baratheon."
Elia made a face, clearly disturbed by hearing such a tale about her apparent "demise". "I see…"
"That's absolutely dreadful." Says Queen Minnie, utterly appalled by what she heard.
"But this doesn't explain how you're here." Sansa emphasized. "Your bodies were at the throne room and later taken to Dorne."
The Martell hummed a little, pondering for some moments. "I can mayhaps imagine Varys covering up our escape and disappearance in some form or fashion. Probably with those who bore striking resemblances to us at the time and using them for distraction's sake. If not him, then… well…" Recomposing herself, Elia resumed her tale. "Just as Armory Lorch was about to apprehend us, a light appeared and from it came King Mickey. He saw what was occurring and put an end to Armory Lorch and his men. After the quick fight, his majesty stated he was trying to find Ventus as he found himself in Westeros. It was moments later the same light that brought him to the Red Keep whisked us all away to Master Yen Sid's tower."
Sansa didn't know who this Yen Sid was but he sounded important and would ask about this man at a later time.
"It was sometime later did Mickey arrived with Keyblade Master Aqua with the unconscious body of Ventus. They stated they underwent a tremendous battle that cost them dearly. Aqua took Ventus to someplace neither of us would know, stating it was the best means of keeping him safe. It was the last time either of us saw both of them."
"Nothing? Nothing at all?"
Elia shakes her head 'no'.
Minnie picked up from there. "My husband had done his best to find their whereabouts. However, he did stumble upon Aqua for a brief time on a personal venture of his to help defeat a dreaded issue."
"The Heartless." Sansa quickly surmises. "They've been attacking Westeros for months now, more so now as of late with the presence of Vanitas."
Elia paled upon hearing that name. "He's… He's returned?"
"He has, stating that he's part of Organization XIII." Says the Stark girl before asking a passing thought. "But what of this Keyblade Master Aqua? Where is she?"
"Mickey said she's stuck in a place that's hard to traverse through. He's been trying to get back there since his one encounter with her a little over a year ago. But once he finds and retrieves her, then they can get Ventus." Minnie took a sip from her tea before continuing. "In fact, he's there as we speak with a friend of ours."
The Stark girl nods rather briefly. Partaking her tea, she digests more and more of this information.
In a way with how much of this is being described, it was like many of the folktales of epic quests. However, it was more real than she can be bargained for.
"And for about eleven years, my children and I have been living the simple life with a few friends of ours from back home in relative peace."
"And what of the other seven?" Sansa questions Elia.
"Other seven?"
"You said about eleven years. What of the other seven years?"
"...I'm sorry, but why are you implying eighteen years? Don't you mean eleven years since the Sacking?" Elia asks, drawing great confusion from the Stark girl. "In fact, shouldn't you be looking younger?"
"Because that's the truth and I'm fifteen years old."
Rhaenys and Elia were rather confused with what was going on here just as much as Sansa. In the process of all this, Minnie was able to piece things together far quicker. "Oh, I think I know why." Drawing looks from the others, the Queen of Disney Castle speaks to Sansa about a particular detail. "But first, I think you should probably know something, my dear. You're no longer at home."
Sansa merely gave Minnie a queer look. "Well, of course, I'm not in Winterfell."
"I should've been more clear. You're not in Westeros. In fact, you're not in your native world at all."
This only confused the Stark girl even further. It was there that Minnie gave Sansa the rundown of the World Order and its complexities. The essential crash course was something like one of Maester Luwin's lessons when she was younger with some information trying to fit into place inside of her head.
After some time doing her best to accept the new bits of information which was shattering more and more of her reality, there was one question looming over everyone.
"This doesn't explain why it's been nearly eighteen years since the end of Robert's Rebellion but it being eleven for them. How is that possible?"
Pondering on what Sansa brought up, Minnie soon gave an explanation. "From what we know, most Worlds have their own... displaced time management. Days could turn out to be weeks one way and vice versa with time flowing differently. Though it seems in this case, it's the amount of years."
The Stark looked over to Elia and Rhaenys, with the latter shrugging. "Not even we know the full reason as to why that happens."
"But that doesn't explain how you look-"
"Around your age or a bit older?" Rhaenys finishes off.
"Yes. You should be in your early twenties if I recall correctly."
A cheeky smirk graces the Targaryen's face. "You can say I'm an early bloomer."
"Rhaenys…"
"Tch… fine~ Ruin my fun, mother." The momentary pout died out with Rhaenys giving an explanation. "You can say it was a bit of what I said just now to something else. I ended up in some misadventures with some friends of ours. One of which had me and one other taking a dip in a fountain of youth." Rhaenys lets out an unlady-like snort. "More like a fountain of aging."
Sansa was more confused at this, thus looking at Elia in hopes of elaborating on this detail.
"It'll take too long to explain."
This got Sansa to grumble out in frustration. "There is a lot really to explain."
Small nods came in response to this statement.
Having given Sansa a number of answers to her questions, Elia decides some of her own. To start out with came the obvious. "Tell me, how fares our family?" She asks, gesturing to herself and her present child.
"Some I've interacted with more than others when they visited the capital for the tourney celebrating my father becoming Hand of the King." Not much reaction was made by Elia and Rhaenys, prompting Sansa to continue. "I've conversed more with Tyene, her mother Ellaria and Princess Arianne than the rest of your kin."
"So my brother had more children, I see." Elia states with a soft smile as she reminisces. "I wonder how he and Doran are…"
"Arianne…" Rhaenys says this time. "I vaguely recall her."
"She and Ellaria said you two were close whenever she was allowed to visit the Red Keep." Says the Stark girl.
The Targaryen nodded on the detail before her mother spoke. "Anything else?"
"Your uncle Lewyn left the Kingsguard as a result of… what happened with your apparent death. He even has a son."
The former princess of the Seven Kingdoms perked up, her happy expression brightening further upon hearing that her favorite Uncle now had a child of his own.
"That's wonderful! And how are they?"
Sansa's expression fell slightly. "Ser Lewyn's son is back home in Dorne with the rest of your family. As for your Uncle… I'm sorry, my lady. He perished in King's Landing."
"...Oh…"
Memories flooded into the minds of Elia and Rhaenys. The Targaryen barely recalls her grunkle Lewyn -let alone the rest of her family- but knows many stories of the Kingsguard member thanks to her mother. Said person reflected far more of her kin as he was practically a second father to her for years.
When she was away from Dorne, other than Oberyn, it was Lewyn who was always by her side, steadfast, loyal and a loving uncle who did everything he could for his favorite (only) niece.
Now the man was gone.
It was a bitter pill to swallow. Not seeing her family in years, Elia had her own form of grief and went through the motions of perhaps not seeing them again. After all, she didn't know if it was possible to return to Westeros. Ventus' arrival was purely by chance, especially his return from what she figured years ago. And King Mickey's timely intervention was even a slimmer chance.
As such, Elia somewhat gave up hope. However, with Sansa's presence, it was rekindled. Yet learning the detail of her one family member having perished was like a harsh slap to the face.
Time would then come and go within the one room as Sansa gave all she knew to her hosts; informing them of the happenings of these many years since their absence.
In the midst of all this, the missing princesses asked the Stark girl what she knew of the Targaryens. All she could give was what she barely knew of Rhaella having died at childbirth with the one newborn and Viserys having fled to Essos. Beyond that, Sansa sadly knew nothing more.
"I'm sorry, Princess." Sansa apologizes. "I wish I could tell you more but…"
"It's quite alright." Elia forgave her. "I wouldn't expect you to know everything." Her mind momentarily drifts back to her good mother, with how much Rhaella did to try to make her time in the Red Keep fine and well, despite circumstances. "Now please, continue."
When Sansa went onto the next bit of what she knew, Rhaenys briefly lost focus and thought back to how her Targaryen uncle and aunt were. Even Elia had similar thoughts as her daughter. What were they like? How were they?
Both hoped things were quite alright for them.
-Red Wastes, Essos-
Things have not been so great as of late.
One could say it was because of circumstances. Another would say it was due to the decisions and actions of others. In a manner, it was a mixture of each in the mind of Daenerys Targaryen, the Khaleesi of the late Khal Drogo.
Looking up into the sky, Dany gazed upon the heavenly object that was faintly red due to the morning light. Her mind is buzzing with all sorts of thoughts and reflections.
The Dothraki named the comet Shierak Quiya, the Bleeding Star. Though now it became a moon, somehow. The old men muttered that it omened ill while others thought it was as if the gods had a new purpose for it.
Regardless, this heralded something grand, yet terrifying. And to many present within the khalasar, it was the three recently born dragons.
Aegon the Conqueror's dragons were named for the gods of Old Valyria. Visenya's dragon was Vhagar, Rhaenys had Meraxes and Aegon rode Balerion the Black Dread. It was said that Balerion's fire was as black as his scales, and his wings so vast that whole towns were swallowed up in their shadow when he passed overhead.
When reflecting on naming her new dragons, it took some time to ponder which was suitable especially when it came to the matter of their sex.
The green one was intended to be Rhaegal, for her eldest brother who died on the green banks of the Trident. However, the dragon didn't seem to like it all that well with Asher and Beskha pointing out the dragon was perhaps female. With this in mind, Dany thought Rhaenyras would be suitable, in honor of her ancestor Queen Rhaenyra.
The cream-and-gold one, Dany momentarily thought of Viserion, naming it after her other brother. However, Viserys was cruel to her and had committed kinslaying on her child, thus she went with another alternative. She asked her dear friend, Xion, if it would be alright to name this dragon Roxar, in memory of her one friend. This got a smile out of her, having Dany make the final decision for her one dragon.
As for the black one, it was named Drogon, in honor of her late husband Drogo. The aforementioned dragon accepted it quite well. And others in the khalasar who all but worshiped her late husband, became a bit more loyal to the decision as they somewhat believed their late khal was with them once again.
The dragon eggs were more precious than rubies and any other jewels out there. A living dragon, however, is beyond price. And in all the world, there are only three in existence now…as far as Dany and her khalasar knew. They had been born from her faith and her need, given life by the deaths of her husband and unborn son along with the combined, apparent power of both her and Xion.
But with their presence, many threats will befall upon not just them, but to Dany.
The Targaryen princess, or rather the Targaryen queen, came out of her musings upon feeling the slight cuffing against the side of her head. Looking to the side, she saw Drogo perching on her shoulder and trying to get her attention. And it didn't take much effort to know what the little dragon desired: food.
As it turned out, like many people out there, dragons preferred having their meat cooked.
Snapping her fingers, a little bit of smoke emanates from them. Scrunching her face, Dany tried again and again with no success.
"Here, let me help."
Walking beside the Targaryen, Xion snapped her own fingers and a small ball of flame appeared. With this present, Dany gave a bitter smile to her dear friend as she was being assisted in getting the bit of meat cooked. It wasn't long before Drogo snapped his small maw around the piece of food and devoured it.
"It's alright, Dany, you're getting there." Her dear friend stated.
The bit of reassurance was a bit wavering for the Targaryen as she looked at her hand. "I've been trying, but casting a simple Fire is struggling."
No. XIV shook her head. "You've barely had any rest and hardly had any food."
Whatever smile Dany bore died and was replaced with a frown. "The others need more food than I do."
The greater Nobody gave her friend a look before focusing on the khalasar around them.
After what happened when facing the Heartless Viserys, much of the original khalasar dwindled significantly. Bloodriders left here and there and took many of the people to form their own khalasars, all due to them not believing a woman would properly lead them. Others left on their own accord upon Dany's permission, stating they were no longer bound to stay. And due to a variety of Heartless attacks, all that remained of Daenerys' khalasar was mainly composed of women, sick old men, and children of roughly a hundred or so in total.
There was no desire for Dany to return to Vaes Dothrak and fulfill her one role now as a widow. As a result, she went on with her original plan to leave and seek survival. But instead of the handful of individuals she sought to bring before Drogo's death, Dany went with the rest of the one khalasar and was forced to venture through the Red Waste.
They rode by night and hardly by day as they mostly took refuge from the sun beneath their tents and whatever shade from the natural landscape. In the process, the conditions of those within Dany's followers varied. Whereas Drogo, Rhaenyras and Roxar more or less prospered, the initial khalasar struggled.
The loud whining of a horse quickly caught Dany and Xion's attention. Looking over yonder, they saw Dany's horse -Silver- topple over and not get back up. The two rushed over with Jorah Mormont reaching over moments prior. As for Drogo, his claws clung onto Dany's clothed shoulder in order to stay in place.
"Is he…?"
After checking the horse, Jorah shook his head 'no'.
The Khaleesi was downtrodden as she knelt beside her fallen steed. Silver was now amongst the long list of dead throughout Dany's exodus. Many old men and children were quick to die due to the harsh elements, despite what supplies were obtained and shared. Not even other horses were spared as they too died due to the present environment.
Still perched on Dany's shoulder, Drogo let out a few hisses before nudging his head over to hers. A small act of trying to console her.
It wasn't long after did Asher and Beskha came over and saw the sight.
"Damn shame." Mutters the Forrester with his old friend nodding in turn.
Brushing her hand against the fallen horse, amethyst eyes stung a little. "She was Drogo's first gift to me."
Jorah and Xion shared a similar look as they gave Dany their sympathies.
"I remember." Says the Mormont.
"I promised to protect them."
Xion reached out her hand to place it on top of her friend's own. "You've been trying, Dany."
The Targaryen shook her head in frustration. "It's not good enough."
After Pono, Jhaquo and the others seized nearly everything of Drogo's "herd", Dany's khalasar was weak. To make up for it, she had to be their strength. She must show no fear, no weakness, no doubt. But it has been so hard these past few days. The only time she showed such traits was when in her tent and letting loose her tears with Xion being there to console her.
"I promised them their enemies would die screaming." Dany scoffs. "How do I make starvation and thirst scream?"
"A trick I never learned, I'm afraid." Jorah comments.
"This is getting ridiculous." Beskha complains. "Supplies are quickly getting scarce and we're losing lives as a result."
This got the Nobody to mutter aloud. "I wish I could do better."
Asher looks over to Xion. "We're not blaming you. It's just the Red Waste is notorious for practically sucking all kinds of life out of everything."
"But still-"
Beskha interrupts. "Xion, if it weren't for your magic in making ice and water, let alone your trips, more of us would be dead by now."
When meant by "trips", Beskha was referring to Xion's use of the Dark Corridors. It was rather… unique to say the least how the others learned of the Keybearer's ability to greatly traverse from one place to another nearly simultaneously. And through the Corridors, Xion was able to return to "civilization" to acquire food for the khalasar. Sadly, the amount she obtained on each trip wasn't enough with the amount of valuables she had to trade. And her casting Water and Blizzard spells so much had been significantly draining in order to help quench everyone's thirst in the extremely dry environment.
Looking onwards, Dany voices an inquiry. "Does it ever end?"
Gazing about, Jorah responds. "This is farther east than I've ever been. But, yes, Khaleesi, everything ends, even the Red Waste."
"And you're sure there's no other way?"
"If we go south to the land of the Lazarheen, the lamb men will kill us and take your dragons." Jorah states, earning a sharp look from the Targaryen. Undeterred, he continues. "If we go back west to the Dothraki Sea, the first Khalasar we meet will kill us and take your dragons."
The Forrester ends up adding more to his fellow Northerner's statement. "It'll either be as prizes, sold as pets or outright kill them."
"I'm not gonna let anyone harm them." Xion sternly stated.
Dany fiercely nodded at the time. "They are mine. No one will take them."
The dragon perched on her shoulder hisses in turn.
Such things are easily said, but backing it up is another.
"Sorry, your grace, but they're too weak to fight." Beskha comments. "They only hatched days ago."
"I agree." Says Mormont. "Like your dragons, the khalasar are too weak. You must be their strength."
Dany looks toward Jorah before shifting her gaze to Asher, Beskha and finally Xion. "As you are mine." Composing herself and collecting her thoughts, Dany spoke out in Dothraki. "My bloodriders, come."
Upon hearing the command, Rakharo, Aggo and Kovarro approached their Khaleesi.
"What do you desire from us?" Asks Aggo.
"You three, take our remaining horses." Dany shifts her gaze to each of them. "You will ride east, you southeast and you northeast."
"What do you seek, Khaleesi?" Questions Rakharo.
"Cities, living or dead. Caravans and people. Rivers or lakes or the great salt sea. Find how far the Red Waste extends before us, and what lies on the other side. You three are amongst our last hope."
"We will not fail you, blood of my blood." Kovarro states with his fellow bloodriders nodding in turn.
Getting their orders, the three bloodriders made their way to their horses and departed from the khalasar for what may be their last time seeing them.
Upon seeing them leave, Dany makes her way over to Xion and makes a request. "Xion, I need you to get us more supplies this time."
The Nobody gives a brief nod. "I'll probably need the last of the valuables."
"Take what's necessary. The lives of my people are more worth to me than trinkets."
"Of course."
"And this time, go to Pentos." Dany includes. "I desire aid from Magister Illyrio."
-Darkworld-
Faint steps against gravel faintly echoed in the large and vast expansive cavern. Details of the vicinity were revealed from the luminescent blue and purple crystals. Such natural "light" is part of what was allowed in the Realm of Darkness.
Walking in no discernable direction, King Mickey of Disney Castle kept his eye out for trouble and anything amiss. It was relatively quiet, which was unsettling, but this was the norm of where he was presently venturing into.
Trailing behind him was a young man with pale skin, bright blue-green eyes and silver hair that was partially swept back. He wore a black, hooded jacket that was unzipped with short sleeves, gold buttons and a checkered pattern at the hem. Underneath, he wears a pale blue t-shirt with a v-neck. He also wears blue cropped trousers that are hemmed with the same checkered pattern as the jacket, black fingerless gloves on each hand that nearly reach his elbows, and black high-top boots.
This is Riku of Destiny Islands and recently titled Keyblade Master.
Hearing the other set of steps come to a halt, Mickey stops and turns to his companion. "What's wrong, Riku? Are you tired?" he questions. "Do you need a break? We can stop."
After seeing Kairi and Lea (i.e. Axel) off on the next part of their training, Mickey immediately met up with Riku for their one mission: to find Aqua, the lost Keyblade Master.
The King of Disney Castle last saw her over a year ago when he ventured into the Realm of Darkness to find the corresponding Keyblade to help lock the door to Kingdom Hearts and set things back to normal. On this journey, he ran into her by chance where they teamed up to help save the worlds. Sadly they got separated before Mickey had the proper chance to save her, having him determined to rescue her when possible. But with another Keyblade Master by his side now, he believed their mission would be a success.
If they can find Aqua, then she can be the key to finding Ventus and Terra; two other Keyblade wielders who are hidden and lost respectively. Master Eraqus was also a likely option to help find all three, due to his connection to them, but he was struck down by Master Xehanort over a decade ago.
Thus, the original goal and mission to find Master Aqua was underway in preparation for the Keyblade War. Sadly they've been traveling for hours with no success in finding her.
"No, just…" The islander's eyes gazed about momentarily. "I've been here. I should know this place. But all that seems like another life."
A smile graces the king's face. "Well, gee. Think of all the places you've seen! All the feelings you've felt." He walks back to his fellow Keyblade Master. "Why, you've done years of growin' in almost no time at all."
"...I remember my first time here. I was so scared." Riku then scoffs, looking at his hand. "But now, my fears and doubts are gone. If anything, I feel exhilarated." He brings his hand right above his heart. "And it's not because there's darkness in me- I know too well what that rush is like. This is different." He focuses back on Mickey. "And it's not adrenaline either. I know Aqua needs us… but I'm ready. I'm in control now." His lips curl slightly to a smirk. "Maybe it's because you're with me this time."
Mickey shakes his head 'no'. "It's not me. I think it's because you've finally found inside you that special strength to protect what matters."
Riku gave him a curious look. "What?"
"Sometimes you care so much for somebody that other feelings disappear. And then, there's no room for fear or doubt."
The islander ponders on the king's words. "Is that it?"
For about a year and a half now, Riku had gone through a lot since he caused his home to fall to darkness. Working for Maleficent and later being possessed by Ansem. The journey through Castle Oblivion. His quest for redemption. His Mark of Mastery Exam.
So much stemmed from his wonderment of two particular encounters in his childhood. The first would be upon Kairi's arrival, making him and Sora come to realize there were other Worlds out there. The other, however, was something he nearly forgot until recently when he undertook his trials in the Sleeping Worlds: a meeting he had with a particular Keyblade wielder.
"Strength to protect what matters…" Riku says with a soft smile. "It reminds me of a promise I made."
"Really? From who?"
"Just someone I once met. Can't tell."
Mickey merely hums. "Sounds like a good memory."
"Yeah." Shifting his blue-green eyes to and fro, Riku speaks. "While we're reminiscing- Mickey, does any of this look familiar?"
Looking about, Mickey gives his response. "Sort of, but the Realm of Darkness has changed since I was here with Aqua."
"Yeah, it's different from what I remember."
"Usually, I'd just follow my heart and things would relatively be fine. But the closer I get now, the connection I have with Aqua is becoming hazier."
"You mean…"
"Maybe, but we can't give up hope."
Riku gives a determined nod. "Yeah."
They resumed their trek, hoping they could find a clue or anything close to Aqua's whereabouts.
-Castle Dracula, Wallachia-
Time has passed upon the land. The sun was setting with the twilight sky blanketing the region before giving way to the night. With this about, defenses around a particular territory become heightened.
Looking from one of the vast windows of the former moving castle, Alucard saw the faint gray wisps appear around the entrance of the Belmont Hold and assumed the same applied to other areas in the border of the land of his home.
Moving away from the window, the dhampir traveled to the central study. His footsteps echoed throughout the corridor as he thought of the plethora of information he learned earlier today.
His new guests were tuckered out from their ordeal and were resting in the quarters he assigned for them during their stay. And as much as he would like to relatively join them in slumber, just like how it is with Eve right now, Alucard needed to get in touch with some individuals.
Within the room of his destination, a large plethora of Carpathian mirror shards floated about. His fingers touched several shards and began tracing a series of symbols which glowed soon after. After the last rune was traced, the mirrors reformed with the collected reflective surface darkened.
After waiting for several minutes with the mirror…
"No response." Alucard mutters. "Just like before."
This happened several times in the past when trying to get in contact with the Nobody he considered a dear friend. The same occurred on Trevor and Sypha's end. Theories came up, stemming through what they knew of the World Order and how things possibly went from there. For instance the mirrors were originally functional to their native world and not to another. However, this seemed disproved once they were able to get in touch with Roxas and converse from there.
Now this issue has happened once more.
Either the mirrors were having difficulty connecting with the ones in Westeros or something else must've happened.
'Must be connected with what occurred with my new guests.' Thought Alucard, tracing runes on the mirror once more and waited.
Before long, the reflective surface reconfigured and eventually showed the images of two of his other friends.
"Sypha. Belmont." He greeted them cordially. Or rather, he did so on the former. The latter received a derisive and "annoyed" tone.
"Corpse lord." And the latter shared in his "annoyed" tone.
The Speaker elbows Trevor's side, earning a wince out of the Vampire Hunter. After sending the sideways glare, Sypha gave the dhampir a warm look. "Alucard. It's good to hear from you."
"You as well."
"How's Eve?"
"She's doing fine. Her lessons have been going well at a decent rate." Alucard comments with a soft smile. "How are you two?"
"Doing alright. Occasionally coming across some Night Creatures here and there. Hopefully, we'll find a village soon to restock our supplies. Though recently we came across some Heartless." Trevor states, earning a look in turn from Dracula's son. "Yes, Sypha and I had the same reaction as well when seeing them."
"I would've thought with Roxas not being on our World, they would've up and left." The Speaker includes.
"I might have a theory on that."
The Speaker and Hunter shared a look with the latter making an inquiry. "Did you come across some on your end?"
"Not exactly. But their presence was indeed here. And before you ask, the Samurai Nobodies Roxas loaned me did not take care of them. The Heartless managed to slip through, however, making me think I'll need to extend the range of their patrol a bit wider."
"But what took care of them? Or did they just leave?" Belmont inquired.
"As a matter of fact, you usually don't call this early from our usual schedule."
"There has been a situation. One I believe is connected to our recent issue."
"Then what seems to be the problem?"
"Some other worlders were essentially dropped on my front door. More specifically, some people Roxas knows from Westeros."
This brought an understandable amount of concern from the Hunter and Speaker as they quickly wondered what occurred. As a result, Alucard explained to them the further circumstances from what he learned so far. How Roxas requested to borrow his share of the Carpathian mirrors to transport his garrison of fighters from the Riverlands to the outskirts of Kings Landing for the purpose of liberating the falsely accused Ned Stark and other people of great importance. How the man's youngest daughter depicted the events at the Sept of Baelor before she, her direwolf, Gendry and one other (i.e. Cait Sith) fled to reconvene with Roxas' people. And the unfortunate circumstance of winding up in Wallachia.
"...Once learning everything I could and putting my new guests to bed, I tried getting ahold of Roxas." Alucard wraps up his lengthy report. "Unfortunately, something is wrong. No matter what I try to do, he does not respond."
"That's troubling." Trevor simply says.
"I dread to think if the world Westeros originates in fell to darkness and became lost." Sypha comments with the following shudder down her spine. "Especially from the past conversations we've had with Roxas, him theorizing the world is far darker than any others he's visited in the past."
"Indeed." The dhampir sighs. "I am sorry for troubling you with this new bit of information, my friends, but I thought it best to keep you in the loop."
"We appreciate it. Truly."
Eventually ending the call, Alucard made to leave the room when he noticed there was another addition to it.
He slowly tilted his head over to see a quick movement of cat ears that flattened themselves with some accented groaning at being caught.
"Right, that wasn't even remotely stealthy." Alucard chastised.
A moment later Cait Sith hopped out of his hiding place and landed up on a table, rubbing his head sheepishly.
"Well, I managed to stay out of your line of sight for that long, didn't I?" The feline remarked.
"Uh-huh." Alucard remarked. "Mind telling me what you're doing here? Eavesdropping, no less."
Cait made a small purring sound, spinning around now and thumbing at himself.
"You can say my curiosity got the better of me."
"That can also get you killed if you're not killed already."
"Nine lives, me friend."
Alucard quirked a brow. "And would you like to test that statement?"
"Been doing so for many years, oh mighty lord of the castle." Sith said with a mischievous tone. "After all, wouldn't have made it as far as I have now, haven't I?"
The Dhampir stared at the cat for a few seconds until he released a sigh.
"I don't know how much you overheard my one conversation, so I may as well lay it out." Alucard waved his hand over to the floating shards in the room. "As much as I would like to send you and the rest back to Westeros, I don't know if I could at this time. Even then, I believe I won't."
Cait Sith tilted his head to the side. "Mind elaborating?"
"Without a clear connection to see how it is in that World, I don't know if it'll be safe to send you all there, regardless if it had fallen to darkness. Even so, I'd rather wait for Roxas to come here to reassure my worries."
The anthropomorphic cat released a hum of consent. "Hard to disagree with ya there, me friend. And you're not wrong about its safety. We got here under dubious and dangerous circumstances, after all. Who knows what's currently happening back in Arya and Gendry's homeworld."
"Clearly." Alucard ruefully sighs. "Now that we're alone, I believe I'd like to speak to you on a few matters."
"Well, I'm the guest and I may as well pay for my share of the rent."
"You're not an ordinary, talking cat."
Alucard rolled his eyes at the way the cat puffed his chest out.
"What gave you that idea?" Cait says smugly.
"Earlier, as we ate, it wasn't noticeable by the others, but you gave whatever food and drink to Nymeria."
"Did I?" Was the coy response. "Perhaps I was not as famished as my traveling companions. Besides, Nymeria is a growing lass like her partner. She needs her meals far more than a strapping one such as myself."
"There is also the factor that my senses are heightened far more than an ordinary human." Alucard went on, ignoring the cat's response. "I took notice then and even now that I cannot hear a heartbeat from you."
Cait Sith raised a hand at that only to falter slightly. "Er… did ya now? What if say, I've mastered the ability to slow my heart rate so much so that-"
"I would have heard that too." Alucard interrupted.
"...right." Rather than slumping, Cait Sith put on his usual mischievous grin. "So then, oh wise one, care to take a gander as to what I really am?"
"I would have first assumed you're a golem. No. You're more than that." The half-vampire, half-human gave the cat a piercing gaze. "You're an automaton."
The grin on Cait Sith grew a bit more. "You're the first in a long time to finally figure that out."
Alucard crossed his arms. "Do the others know?"
"The wee lass was more focused that I can walk and talk like any other person out there. Gendry was already more used to the unordinary, due to the Moogles… You know Moogles are, yes?" Seeing Alucard give a brief nod, Sith continued. "And I doubt Roxas would really care about my origins, only that I'm a friend of a compatriot of his."
"Then where is the real you? The one operating you right now."
"That's the thing, no one is…" The automation looked forlorn and downcast soon after. "Well… Not anymore."
That made Alucard pause.
"What now? Hang on… than how are you-"
"His heart had to have gone somewhere, yeah?" Cait's mood switches like a flip of a coin. "And besides, technology is a whole lot more advanced than you realize where I come from." He moves around playfully on the table as he elaborates. "Back home, I am one of many who helped run a theme park."
"A theme park?" Alucard parroted, tone conveying he did not know what Cait was talking about.
"A large plot of land used for the sole purpose of entertaining the masses." The talking feline sums up for the dhampir. "Think of a carnival of a much grander scale that more or less fills out a small city."
Intrigue took hold of the dhampir. "Really? That must be quite the feat to manage."
"Where I'm from, along with many other Worlds, it's reality." Sith then gets to the heart of the matter. "Out of all my robotic siblings, I was the most special."
Alucard raised a brow in interest. "And why's that?"
"I am not just the prototype of the Cait Siths but I was given a new purpose by my creator, Reeve Tuesti." Came the proclamation. "This is mostly due to a series of circumstances which made my uniqueness possible."
The lord of the castle hums. "I'll take your word for it."
"Now I have a question for ya. Eve may be a sister of yours, but clearly not one of blood or even the same species. So who or rather what is she?"
"...In a way, she is like you." Came the vague response. Alucard gestures for the feline to follow. "It's best to explain elsewhere."
"Whouldnae say no!" Sith says playfully as he goes after the dhampir.
After some time walking in relative silence, the other worlder decides to bring up a particular detail. "In a manner, you're not the first vampire I've worked alongside with, let alone get to know of."
This momentarily halts Alucard from walking in relative curiosity. "Really?"
"Well… Vincent was not exactly a vampire, but my friend Yuffie somewhat labeled him as one." Sith then elaborates. "He was all dark, broody and stoic. More so after what he went through prior to my friends and I meeting and eventually recruiting him to our cause at the time."
Another hum comes from Alucard as he resumes his walk with his guest following.
Coming across one section of the castle, Alucard opens the door for Cait to walk on in. It was there he was greeted with quite the sight.
To a normal resident of this world or anyone else of this similar time period, they would see all sorts of metal contraptions with glass beakers and jars filled with all sorts of things. Calling it unnatural among other things.
However, to an intellectual like Cait Sith, he saw a laboratory filled with mechanisms his mind more or less recognized.
"Now this is fascinating."
"It is." Alucard's eyes briefly look at the various items within the vicinity. "My father acquired and amassed a large collection of lost knowledge over the years. Even improving them as he saw fit. This is merely a small sample, as it were."
Walking a bit further into the laboratory, they came to a stop at a spot that seemed like a haphazard sight. There were remains of what appeared to be a giant glass tube connected to a series of cables and other machines.
Walking around the peculiar spot, Cait Sith gave a quick expectation. "What was this exactly?"
"It was, for all intents and purposes, the womb Eve came from." This quickly drew the surprised attention of the automaton. "She was not birthed through normal means. In truth, she is a patchwork creation."
Coming to a nearby table, Alucard tossed a book over to Cait, who caught it easily. Curious, the cat opened the cover and saw the writing scrawled on the first page.
"Property of Friedrich von Frankenstein…" Cait read aloud, Alucard humming at the name.
"He came here sometime after my mother came into my father's life. With her presence, Frankenstein had a better chance of learning the higher mysteries of the world. And like her, Dracula gave him a chance." The dhampir's face soured slightly. "However, there were complications."
Cait Sith hums as he was quickly scanning through the pages. For a normal person, it would perhaps be skimming through. In truth, the automation was speed reading at an alarming rate. He wasn't organic as his processors were swiftly registering much of the information within seconds as he flipped through the pages.
"Through what I read, Eve was Frankenstein's attempt to create a Rebis."
This halts Cait's actions as he focuses a bit more on the dhampir. "Rebis?"
"The Rebis, the putrefied and purified fusion of matter and spirit in a body both male and female. In other words, a divine Hermaphrodite."
"...Huh… You don't see those every day."
"Obviously." Alucard snorts out. "Instead of a normal means of the rare chance of a hermaphrodite being born from a man and woman, alchemists artificially make them from body parts of both male and female corpses."
The automaton's feline face scrunches up a little more to show his disgust. "But why?"
"Through their magnum opus, alchemists seek greater knowledge from the higher planes of existence. As far as I know, no Rebis was successfully created. But like many alchemists before him, Frankenstein sought to make it happen. However, he not only sought to create a Rebis but to make a new breed of superhumans."
'Sounds like Professor Hojo to me.' Cait thought as he flipped through a few pages while listening. "Why was this done here?"
"From the journal, Frankenstein sought my father's knowledge of the occult and sciences to make his Rebis unique from any and all other attempts. Not to mention the castle would've been the safest place to conduct his research than the rest of the outside world."
"Smart on being precautious." Cait Sith flips more and more through the pages as he was able to quickly upload much of its contents. However, he slows down upon a peculiar section as his digital mind was trying to fathom what was presented. "Looking at the blueprints, it wasn't just human parts but engines… magical cores?"
"The mechanical parts were integrated to help make up for a number of body parts he could not acquire without arousing suspicion from not just Dracula but my mother as well."
"He didn't tell them what he was really doing." Cait stated, not questioned.
"My mother Lisa didn't really know at the time whereas my father only speculated, from what I assumed. Just so long as Frankenstein didn't make any attempt to harm Dracula and my mother, then he'd be left alone."
Cait sniffed, rubbing his nose knowingly. "I bet things didn't go as planned."
"Most certainly did not. With the last entry, Frankenstein attempted to give his creation life. However, I can only speculate and assume what stopped him in the end."
In his imagination, he could see one or both of his parents stumbling into the lab and see what Frankenstein was going to do. Not everything was put into the journal of what was running through the scientist's mind, for unknown reasons. Perhaps they were kept in another journal somewhere or the man didn't have the chance to put down the information.
"Have your parents ever told you?"
"Not a word. All they ever told me was to never come to this part of the castle. Now I can imagine why."
"Yet here we are now."
The dhampir gives a brief nod. "When I became Lord of the Castle, I decided to finally come here and learn of its secrets. It was then that I stumbled upon Eve and woke her up -as it were- out of my curiosity."
By this point, Cait finally closes up the journal, having compiled its contents into his memory banks. Filtering through, he pulls up a bit of content. "Were you expecting her to be already knowledgeable?"
"Frankenstein was, I -however- wasn't. Well, not entirely," Alucard corrects him. "After all, Eve was -for all intents and purposes- a newborn."
Cait crossed his arms, nodding at that assessment. "That explains her mannerisms and way of speaking."
"Oh yes. I would've believed Frankenstein would've seen his creation to be a failure on that factor. Not knowing how to express emotions, how to know basic knowledge, and so forth."
Eve being in his life was practically a godsend. And yes it took time in doing much in teaching her… much, but it was honestly the best he could do without losing his mind by being patient with her.
'At least I know what my parents were like when raising me.' Thought the dhampir with a bitter smile. "Teaching her kept me occupied when I wasn't cleaning up and maintaining both the castle and the Belmont Hold."
"With that out of the way," Sith began once setting the journal down, "you planning on telling Gendry and Arya of the circumstances?"
"Of what? Eve? Returning home?"
"More so the latter than the former."
"...Eventually." Came the rueful sigh. "They need to adjust to the new norm of their lives."
"Hopefully soon. They'll be stir-crazy if they don't know the truth. The young lass more so than the large lad."
Given what Alucard learned, withdrawing such information varies if it'll be more harmful than good. A complicated issue the lord of the castle will have to work on within the foreseeable future.
'Roxas,' Alucard began with worry, 'wherever you are, please hurry and inform us you're alright.'
-Unknown Location-
A small fit of groaning was made from a prone figure. More followed upon intending to have air into their lungs. In the process, the person began registering a number of things from their senses. First was the sweltering heat. It was familiar to them, somehow. And from their hands came the grainy sand.
Eyes flickered open but quickly shut due to the brightness. It caused a hiss from their owner for the briefest of moments. Before long, there was some nudging against their back.
"Tyene." Spoke a familiar voice. "Tyene, you need to get up."
Slowly opening her eyes, the Sand Snake was soon greeted with a sandy dune. From there, she turned her body further to see Roxas kneeling before her with a concerned look on his face.
"Roxas…?" Came her unsure response.
"I'm here, Tyene." He holds out his hand. "Let me help you up."
Taking hold, she was hoisted up by her lover and kept steady as she was regaining her balance while using her Missing Ache Keyblade for additional help. It was from there did she inspect their present surroundings.
The brightness of the day indicated the early morning. It revealed the land of burning sands. Huge sand dunes had been blown away by a recent sandstorm and dumped elsewhere. The desert spread out before her- a sea of sand, shimmering with heat. It was a timeless space of beauty, wonder and longing. To many, the desert was a higher force of nature where they greatly appreciate the necessities and don't take things for granted.
And to Tyene, it was an environment all too familiar to her.
"Where in Dorne are we?" Came her loud mutter as her mind was slowly catching up to her.
If they were in Dorne, how was it they came here so suddenly? How long were they asleep?
"We ain't there, that's for sure." No. XIII corrected with a narrowed gaze.
This got a queer look from Tyene, having her break her hold on Roxas in order to walk.
The seemingly endless, flat horizon was suddenly broken upon walking past a dune and seeing a heavily fortressed city in the distance. Not to mention with signs of an army seen over yonder.
She traveled all over Dorne several times since she was able to as a child. She could practically recall a location upon a certain inspection. She knew many of the Keeps by heart of knowing which one was which.
This place, however, was something she was completely unfamiliar with.
"Are… Are we in Essos?"
She'd only been there a few times, but only to a handful of locations due to her father. Even then, she had a decently good memory of what they were like.
Yet, like before, she had no knowledge of what this place was.
"What I can tell you now, Tyene, is that we're a long, long way from your home."
-End Chapter-
AN:
Time has come and gone since last updating. Obvious details with me having work, family life and depression taking up a lot of my time and energy from writing. Let's move on.
To start with, House of the Dragon Season 2 had finished weeks ago, having it resulting in being rather hit and miss. Yes they had to spread out a lot to cover more build up to other big conflicts in the Dance of Dragons. And of course, they had to sacrifice a good number of details in the Fire & Blood history book in order to put more importance on Rhaenyra and Alicent, which just… didn't go all that well. Not to mention putting too much time on Daemon over at Harrenhal where it was spread out to various episodes where they could've just simplified it to about two at most. But then again, we had the whole Writer's Strike going on, making it hard for people to really change the scripts to become better. Oh and Daemon's daughters -Baela and Rhaena- were basically thrashed, in my opinion. Baela was essentially a female Daemon in the book version but in the show she was just… not great. And Rhaena, boy she was done poorly where her character became melded with Nettles for odd reasons. She just couldn't let go of not having a dragon, but once learning there was a wild dragon in the Vale, she abandons her charges and goes after finding Sheepstealer. Uh, I get that Rhaenyra was desperate to get more dragonriders, but once learning Rhaena abandoned Aegon the younger and little Viserys, boy things will not be pretty in a realistic approach.
Now we have to wait two more years to see season three of HotD… and the fourth and final season two years after that… ugh!
In the meantime we have the officially reported Knight of the Seven Kingdoms show coming out next year. While I'm happy to see this adapted, I'm hesitant. You see, the show is adapting the first three and published novelas of the Dunk and Egg story and from what is reported, only six episodes will be done for the one season. Knowing how short each novela is, it's quite understandable two episodes will cover each novela, which is fine. It was just my initial thought at the time the other novelas GRRM reportedly planned out had not been written.
What I would really love to see done would be the show events of the Tourney of Harrenhal with the following Robert's Rebellion/War of the Usurper. That would be fantastic to see as many fans of the series were dying to see the proper depictions for it.
With show rants pertaining to ASoIaF, let's get onto this story.
For one, yes this is somewhat of another interlude chapter of sorts to show more of what's going on with some other characters. More specifically, catching up with some presently on other worlds and those we haven't seen in quite some time, in a manner. Some setups here and there and other expositions just to get things rolling.
Now, of course, there is one thing I really wanted to do in this chapter, given what many of you readers have brought up in reviews and PMs. It mostly being y'all wondering about Eve, thus there are some details I would like to discuss.
In the Castlevania series, they loosely bring in a variety of mythological horrors from nearly all corners of the world to serve as bosses and enemies you have to encounter and fight against. Vampires (obviously), werewolves, Medusa heads, zombies, mummies, skeletons, chimeras, slime monsters, eldritch horrors, you name it. One of them is a peculiar boss enemy many recognize as Frankenstein's monster/creation.
You would be asking why as typically the events of Frankenstein occurred some hundred years after the initial point in time of the first series of Netflix's Castlevania. However, I recalled the events of the Lord of Shadows games as the first one had Frankenstein show up as a boss and it made me recall "Oh yeah, the game series somewhat plays loose on various aspects at different time periods so why not work with that."
Another detail I should bring up is that I've been a fan of the Type-Moon franchise for years. More specifically the Fate series. Though I'm not an in-depth follower as opposed to many others out there.
I wanted to spice things up on the Castlevania side of things and soon recalled Frankenstein's creation. And extending from it, the various details brought up in Castlevania season 4 and immediately my mind went towards Berserker of Black with many possibilities unfurling for me to consider using.
So to clarify, no, Eve is not her Berserker and Saber Servant variants from Type Moon. I'm taking inspiration from her and incorporating with the one Castlevania series to have my own.
Anyways, be sure to review this story guys! Would like the criticisms. Please and thank you!
R